Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offering from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” Luke 21:2-4

Today’s Gospel reading is a heartwarming account of the theological virtue of charity. While it certainly is good to give from our wealth, it is virtuous to give from our poverty.

I once watched a documentary “Ocean of Mercy: Three Lives – One Vision – No Limit”. This had been my first introduction to St. Maximilian Kolbe. The main thing I knew about St. Maximilian Kolbe was how he willingly gave up his own life so that a man who had been condemned to death could live. He made the ultimate sacrifice, he gave his own life. This event happened in Auschwitz during World War II. I came to understand how St. Maximilian Kolbe’s life was a continuous string of virtuous acts. He gave from his own poverty. He was ordained a priest in 1907 and offered his whole livelihood advancing the mission of the Church. He is our modern-day role model. St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!

As we are winding down the month of November, the month which has been dedicated to praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, this is a beautiful way to offer an act of charity, an act of love, to give from our poverty.